/awr"cheuhrd/ , n.
1. an area of land devoted to the cultivation of fruit or nut trees.
2. a group or collection of such trees.
[ bef. 900; ME orch ( i ) ard, OE orceard; r. ortyard, ME ortyerd, OE ortigeard (cf. Goth aurtigards garden), equiv. to ort- (comb. form akin to WORT 2 ; later identified with L hortus garden) + geard YARD 2 ]